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Use the form on the right to contact us.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding your instrument, repairs, any instruments we have for sale, ordering an instrument, or any instrument you wish to sell.

1000 North Rand Road No. 224
Wauconda, IL, 60084
United States

847-864-7730

I began making guitars in 1966 in Dayton Ohio, where I worked out of my house. From 1968-1970 I lived in Mexico City, returning during the summers to build instruments at the Dayton location. 

During this time I was studying Anthropology and playing flamenco guitar professionally in various troupes in Mexico and around the U.S. In 1972 I moved to Chicago and worked briefly out of the back of a music store before moving to my present location in 1973. 

At that point I gave up any pretensions of being a professional guitarist and dedicated myself full time to lutherie.

 


My 800 Greenwood Street shop has undergone several renovations and changes over the years, the most recent being the 1995 massive renovation I did of the outside and inside of the building. 

As a result, my building is now climate controlled throughout the entire 4,000 square feet, and it has now acquired a nicer facade, with more interior showroom space than was previously available. 

Consequently, we are better able to serve those who prefer to visit the shop to select an instrument from our extensive inventory, which is housed in glass fronted rosewood cabinets. Being able to play many instruments side by side is very helpful in making a final selection, and we have full repair/restoration facilities on the premises for minor action adjustments to major restorations of valuable collector instruments.

2014 Sergei de Jonge

2014 Sergei de Jonge (Canada), 650 mm scale, 51 mm nut, strings are spaced at 43 mm on centers between 1st and 6th.  Spruce top, Indian rosewood sides and back, individual Schertler Swiss made tuning machines, original untouched french polish of shellac, mint unplayed condition.  Sergei de Jonge began in the shop of Jean-Claude Larrivee who was student of Edgar Mönch of Munich, Germany.  Sergei’s children have continued the guitar making tradition in the family, and Sergei is still very much active producing these highly distinctive and individually crafted works of art.  This instrument has a Gilbert style bridge and Sergei’s own bracing pattern.  The sound is very bright, basses are firm and incisive, and the instrument has lots of color and dynamic range which is easy to control.  The action is easy with no buzzes, the instrument is a real joy to play.  $7,000